By DENNIS AMOR

COUNCILLORS have voted against driving a highway through the heart of an attractive Victorian riverside caravan park.

Closing the three-and-a-half star Thomson River Caravan Park at Sale and building the road through it was one of three suggested schemes being discussed for flood-proofing the busy South Gippsland Highway south of the town.

But the local Wellington Shire Council decided its preferred route would not affect the 100-site park but would instead impact on nearby heritage-protected mature elm trees.

"It is important to note that whilst council is lodging a submission, this is a VicRoads project and ultimately the decision is in their hands," council spokesperson Gaye Davies told Caravanning News.

And caravan park co-manager Elaine Garlick told us: "The council never wanted the park to close and I am very relieved at the way the vote went. We now hope VicRoads accepts its decision."

Wellington Mayor Darren McCubbin said the council decided to approve the option which would deliver the upgrade in the shortest time.

"The idea is that we can have a fast, efficient, all-weather road linking the township of Sale along the South Gippsland Highway to Yarram and Longford," he said.

State and federal governments have approved the cost of raising the level of the notoriously flood-prone South Gippsland Highway and build bridges between Sale and Longford.

Victoria's Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said there had already been significant work to reduce flood impact on the highway, including the $14 million Swing Bridge project and the Long Waterhole Bridge replacement project which cost $7 million.

"However this highway at Cox's Bridge is regularly closed by flooding, forcing drivers to take a frustrating 53 kilometre detour via Rosedale," he explained.

"It is highly susceptible to flooding as it is wedged between the Thomson River and the Sale Common Wetlands. Now this upgrade project, which will generate hundreds of jobs, will raise the road by about 1.5 metres above the existing level and two new elevated bridge structures will be built to protect it up to a 1-in-20 year flood. Currently this section is prone to closure in a 1-in-4 year flood."

Mr Pallas said flooding closed the highway near the Thomson River Caravan Park twice in 2007 for several days, reinforcing how important the project will be for many tourists and local residents.

"Since 1974 the South Gippsland Highway between Sale and Longford has been blocked due to flooding on 23 occasions, with closures for up to two weeks and massive repair bills," he said.

"As well as the frustration from detours and closures and the impact on livelihoods and daily activities for thousands of Gippsland locals, there is the safety risk for drivers when water covers the road or obscures its edges, signs and markers."

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